Interpreting the World

"Events in the world affect us only through our interpretations of them, so if we can control our interpretations, we can control our world."

-- Jonathan Haidt. The Happiness Hypothesis, p.23.

The world holds no meaning in and of itself. Events happen not because of some grand scheme or in accordance with some cosmic plan, they just happen. We are the meaning-makers. Our stories and interpretations provide us with a running commentary that puts events in perspective and creates for each of us our own, individualized story line, our own personalized world.

That becomes obvious when we see two people experience the same event and come away with two very different interpretations. Assuming they both have the facts straight, the difference in their experiences, both present and ongoing, is how they interpret those facts.

First off, at least subconsciously, we each are the center of our own universe. Our interpretation of any event is to a large part based upon how we believe that event affects us. We are always the star of our own story. I'm a huge Cubs fan. The Cardinals beat the Cubs, so woe is me, bad event. If you're a Cards fan, though, the same event is cause to celebrate and imbibe many of St. Louis' famous and favorite Budweiser beverages.

Granted, that's a trivial example, but the point is that every event we experience is run through our own personal likes and dislikes, biases, prejudices, and filters. It is those filters, per se, that lead us to make our individualized interpretations. The stronger your attachment to those filters, the more likely you are to see your perspective on the world as the only, right perspective.

Now, I believe, Jonathan Haidt's point in The Happiness Hypothesis is that we can, by making more positive interpretations, experience a more positive world. And I agree. Why go around seeing everything through sludge-colored glasses? Rose-colored sure make the world look better.

But what if we took off the glasses altogether and just look at naked reality? What would we see? My bet is that we'd see a world with no stories, no interpretations whatsoever. We'd just see what is. Unadorned reality, minus our personal spin. To many of you that may sound a bit bleak. Stories are fun, stories are juicy. They not only provide meaning, they give us our bearings and provide us with a semblance of security and stability in an ever-changing world.

So, here's my recommendation: Continue to make stories, just don't believe a one of them! At the same time work towards seeing the world sans story. Granted, this approach is paradoxical, or at least two-pronged. Learn to make better, i.e., more positive stories, and also move towards transcending story altogether. It's all about experiencing, on a personal level, the two hallmarks of every true spiritual tradition, joy and detachment.

Cool head, warm heart -- may you experience both.